Xi Jinping’s consolidated authority within the Chinese Communist Party and People’s Liberation Army underpins the near-certain trader view that he will remain in power through the end of 2026. Recent military purges, including the September 2026 expulsion of senior Central Military Commission figures, demonstrate ongoing disciplinary control rather than factional erosion. No designated successor has emerged ahead of the 2027 Party Congress, and public appearances plus directives on domestic security continue without interruption. Speculation over the 73-year-old leader’s stamina, fueled by schedule adjustments during the September BRICS and U.S. summits, has not produced verifiable evidence of incapacity or political challenge. The principal variables that could still alter the outcome before year-end remain an abrupt, undisclosed health event or an unanticipated internal reversal, both viewed by observers as low-probability given the absence of supporting indicators.